Local homes & businesses
decorated for the season
p. 19-21
Remembering all that
happened in 2017
p. 29-36
A new take on old
classic: Sherlock Holmes
p. 41-42
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
ALL LANDLINE CALLS 10 DIGITS
Volume 21 • Issue 52
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
TRENTON—In an effort to
help educate people affected by the
new 640 area code overlay in the
existing 609 area code, the New
Jersey Board of Public Utilities
(BPU) is circulating an educa-
www.hammontongazette.com
Why? BPU: New 640 area code begins in 2018
tional notice, both in English and
Spanish, from Neustar Inc., the
North American Numbering Plan
Administrator, a press release from
the BPU dated December 12 said.
According to the release, due to
the new area code, people dialing
any number from a landline, in-
cluding all local numbers, will
have to dial all 10 digits, including
the area code with the number they
are dialing, at all times.
The release said the BPU is re-
minding residents and businesses
in the 609 and 856 area codes that
changes will go into effect early
next year that will impact the way
they dial numbers on their landline
phones. The new dialing proce-
dures will begin on January 20,
2018, although for the next seven
months consumers will be able to
use both new and old dialing pro-
cedures. Then, beginning on Au-
gust 18, 2018, they must use the
new procedures, the release said.
“We know it might be a cause
Born in town: Making time for family at Annata
The people speak
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Back
in
April of 2017, this writer wrote a
column entitled “Were you born
in Hammonton? Let us know
where” asking for people who
See DIAL, Page 10
were born within the borders of
Hammonton to contact the news-
paper with when and where they
were born.
The results were nothing short
of outstanding. People responded
via telephone, email, regular mail
and by stopping me on the street
Kathedral’s hotel
approved by board
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The Ham-
monton Zoning Board of Adjust-
ment approved a use variance and
sign variance to allow Spellcaster
Productions LLC, the company
that operates Kathedral Event
See BORN, Page 3
13-room facility
Center (Block 3001, Lots 40 and
41, Zone R-1 at 499 South Egg
Harbor Rd.), to open a 13-room,
boutique hotel and spa during its
meeting on December 21.
Kevin Rodio, owner of Spell-
Decorated for the holiday season Pullia looks back
See ZONING, Page 3
THG/Tania Rivera. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Lindsay McClure, Lauren Zerillo, Jamie Gilbert and John Zerillo celebrating their annual father-daughter Christmas
dinner at Annata Wine Bar on December 21 during downtown Hammonton’s Third Thursday. More pictures, Page 38.
at council tenure
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—Michael
Pullia has served on town council
since 2009, a timeframe that he
described as a “very interesting
eight years.” After four consecu-
tive terms, the Republican coun-
cilman, who was originally
elected as a member of Hammon-
ton First, decided to take the next
step in municipal government and
run for mayor of Hammonton
against incumbent Mayor Stephen
DiDonato during the 2017 elec-
tion. After falling short in the race,
Pullia will now serve his final
weeks as a councilman after eight
HPD makes drug
arrest on Toni Lynn
by Gabe Donio
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
Photo courtesy of Bill DiMeo/Randy Sarlo
Bill DiMeo and Randy Sarlo submitted photos of the home at 600 Middle Road. DiMeo calls The Gazette each year
to share with the newspaper his festive home. For more pictures of homes and businesses decorated for the holidays,
see pages 19-21.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—Ryan Basile,
20, of Hammonton, was arrested
on December 21 at 8:12 p.m. in the
area of Toni Lynn Court, following
a suspicious persons call, Ham-
monton Detective Sgt. Edward
See PULLIA, Page 4
Slimm said.
Basile was found to have con-
trolled dangerous substance heroin,
crack cocaine, suboxone and
Xanax on his person, Slimm said.
He was also found to be in pos-
session of controlled dangerous
substance paraphernalia, including
wax papers, syringes, a spoon and
Gazette • $20 FOR 52 WEEKS • CALL 609-704-1939
See POLICE, Page 14